Arizona Cardinals Pre-Training Camp Roster Projections: Cornerbacks
We took a look as the Arizona Cardinals safety position earlier in the week and today we'll break down the corner back position in what should be a much improved secondary. Both of the starting corner backs from last year's season opener are gone and both new starters should be a significant upgrade. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Bryant McFadden have the size and abilities to be a special duo this season but it's the depth behind them that will be battling for playing time and roster spots. As with safeties the Cardinals will likely carry between four and six corners on the 53 man roster (only four made it last year), depending upon how many safeties are also able to play corner in a pinch. We'll break the guys down into three groups, locks, bubble and no chance. These groups refer to chances of making this year's 53 man roster, not necessarily the practice squad or any team in the future.
Locks
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Bryant McFadden, Ralph Brown
On the Bubble
No Chance
Wilrey Fontenot, Tony Banks
Ralph Brown being a 'lock' is probaby debatable but unless the Cardinals plan on using Rolle exclusively as a nickel corner, I can't see Toler or Adams being ready for that much responsibility. It's possible that Toler and Adams could both make the final squad, leaving the team with four corners, but if they decide to roll with just two, it'll most liekly come down to who is better on special teams and how safe the Cardinals feel about sliding Toler through to the practice squad. Here's a quick look at the 'bubble' and 'no chance' guys.
Greg Toler: This year's fourth round pick is a promising player with a ton of athletic ability but his learning curve will be amazingly steep and his overall skills are still raw. Given his draft status, it's unlikely that Toler wouldn't make the team but fourth round picks have been cut before and he'll have to prove that he's an asset on special teams units. He could also help his status if he's able to contribute in the return game.
Michael Adams: Adams, an undrafted free agent entering his third season , spent most of 2008 on the practice squad although he was called up late in the season. He appeared in five regular season games and all four playoff games, although most of his playing time was restricted to special teams. Adams' size (5'8 180) will always be a hinderance but he's the kind of fierce competitor and special teams terror that make him hard to root against. Still though, it'll probably take the Cardinals carrying five corners for Adams to get a roster spot.
Wilrey Fontenot: Fontenot was a seventh round pick of the Falcons in 2008 but he was cut during camp and Cardinals added him to the practice squad shortly thereafter. He was a four year starter at the University of Arizona and has good athleticism but his size (5'9 170) doesn't do him any favors. His dream season this year might very well be following the same path that Michael Adams did in 2008.
Tony Banks: Banks, an undrafted rookie, is an interesting kid with good athleticism and better size than most in his shoes (5'10 195). He's played both corner and safety in the past although his size indicates he's best suited to play corner. He had a reputation for making plays while at Penn State but he still probably needs at least on year on the practice squad.
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After digging all the way through, the corner position seems pretty clear cut. Toler is almost certainly going to be the fourth corner on the depth chart and Adams fate will likely deped on how many corners the team decides to carry. We all know that where Antrel Rolle lines up on passing downs will also effect this group but who's to say that they still don't keep five for special teams purposes. Any bold predictions? Any surprises in this group?
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19 comments
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Comments
Secodary
Is the unit I am most excited about going into this season. I have high expectations for them and I hope they don’t disappoint. Especially DRC.
by badmatty53 on Jun 12, 2009 1:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
DRC should tear up the league this year.
After how he played last year and how coaches are talking about him after OTAs he has created some seriously high expectations for himself to live up to this year. I have no doubt in my mind though that he will reach those expectations.
by Pyromnc on Jun 12, 2009 1:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sophmore slump
I do worry that DRC may have a sophmore slump.
MBN
by mbn on Jun 13, 2009 9:30 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
DRC - McFadden - Rolle/Johnson - Wilson
I bet you even Fitz – Q – and Boobs wouldnt want to face our secondary. We have two solid number 1s at corner for the first time in,…. um,… ever? I bet you Aeneas Williams is wishing he could still play! Toler is a definitely the 4th corner on the roster. If the Cards keep Matt Ware then they only keep 4 corners in my mind and if they release him there is a chance that they carry 5. Rolle can also play corner remember so maybe the number is already set at 4.
Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
by sc464 on Jun 12, 2009 1:38 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Fitz would still own them.
Doesn’t matter who you put on Fitz he will still own them.
by Pyromnc on Jun 12, 2009 2:22 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
DRC with experience under his belt...
Would be the ideal corner to put on him though, given his height and ball hawking abilities.
by badmatty53 on Jun 12, 2009 3:35 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, yes yes,
Our corners have the potential to be great, simply great. If the pass rush can be even average, these guys will dominate.
As for the roster, I hope they find a way to keep Adams but even if he has to go to the p-squad, he’ll be the first one up if someone goes down injured.
Also, anyone remember Fontenot at U of A. His name doesn’t ring a bell?
by Bezekira on Jun 12, 2009 2:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Depending on how Toler does I don’t imagine they’ll target another CB in the draft very early for the next couple of years. If any of the bubble/no chance guys stick, even in the practice squad, until Brown retires/falls out of favor, hopefully one will be ready to move up… Then again, drafting best-at-position can lead us any number of directions.
I suppose my big Q’s for the group would be:
1. Is there enough faith in Adams to play corner and not just gunner?
2. Who goes to the practice squad?
- Fontenot’s had a year with the team (kinda), so I imagine Whiz & Co. know whether or not he has the potential to move up by now. If they decide he doesn’t, which seems likely as I haven’t heard anything about him ever, Banks probably gets the guaranteed spot. Toler or Brown?
3. Who gets to be the nickel -
— I’m guessing Brown this year, but does that mean that he’s off the team in ’10 if Toler is ready to move up?
I still think Ware is probably gone this year, so for our CBs I’ll say Toler is also a lock and Adams makes the team as our 5th, with Banks getting a spot on the practice squad with either Fontenot or some other random signee — Tony Davis or Michael Ray Garvin or even Dowling as our latest CB/S hybrid.
Also, I have never heard of Tony Banks. Tony Davis is 5’10", 195lbs and an undrafted CB…
by tw3kr on Jun 12, 2009 4:20 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Heh, whoops - ignore all that strikeout please… -.
by tw3kr on Jun 12, 2009 4:21 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Toler will make it over Adams
I know Toler’s raw, but from what we’ve read so far about his skills and his many comparisons to DRC, he may spend a season on ST and continue to develop until he can play the nickel and be a good corner backup.
by CardsFan08 on Jun 12, 2009 5:34 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
The Ralph Brown Conundrum
Every time I see the replay of the Santonio Holmes TD catch to win the Super Bowl, I see Brownie’s outstretched arms attempting to deflect the ball fall short by 4 or 5 inches.
This suggests that either (a) he didn’t extend his arms fully enough or (b) couldn’t jump high enough to tip it away.
Ralph is a savvy CB who’s smart enough to occasionally bait an opposing QB and come away with a key pick. But in the modern day NFL (with 6-4 receivers who can run in the 4.3’s or 4.4’s, physical ability is becoming equally if not more important than brains or experience.
It may come down to the question – What do we need more behind DRC and McFadden: the experience of a Ralph Brown? Or the athleticism (and potential) of a Greg Toler?
CHICKEN LITTLE WAS RIGHT!
by JJeff88 on Jun 13, 2009 8:43 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I personally thought he didn't stretch all the way.
by hevchv on Jun 14, 2009 10:42 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brown is smart and knows where to be on the sideline...
…where anything going over his hands is likely uncatchable-out-of-bounds. Holmes just made an amazing, agonizing, frak I hate thinking about it still catch.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
by Hawkwind on Jun 14, 2009 12:10 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
5 CBs
Last year we carried 5 CBs, not four. I consider DRC, McFadden, Brown, and Toler to be “locks”. Adams, Fontenot and Banks would be competing for the fifth spot, with the inside track to Adams due to experience.
by Carddan on Jun 15, 2009 1:19 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
No, I was counting Green, ha ha. The final CB depth chart last year was Hood, DRC, Green, Brown and Adams. Hood and Green are gone, McFadden and Toler are added.
by Carddan on Jun 16, 2009 10:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs




















